Ray Bentley coming to WNY for book-signing events | Events

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Ray Bentley, the former Buffalo Bills linebacker (1986 to ’91) and preseason TV play-by-play announcer now in his 13th season with ESPN as a college football game analyst, will appear in Western New York to promote his debut fiction novel, “Driftwood,” the weekend of Dec. 19. Bentley has scheduled several appearances to sign copies of his book and meet with fans.

On Sunday, Dec. 20, Bentley will visit The Amherst Pizza & Ale House, 55 Crosspoint Parkway, Amherst, from noon to 2:30 p.m. to sign books and host a Bills Watch Party. Bentley will sign copies of his books as well as other football items, and will also pose for photos during these events.

Bentley is also remembered for the children’s books he authored and published — featuring Darby the Dinosaur — while playing with the Bills. He has seven children’s books to his credit, and four will be available at the signing events in Buffalo. Darby's Christmas Adventure, The Great Gator Princess, No More Hiccups and Nobody Said Happy Birthday are the available titles.

Bentley was part of the Bills’ 1990 and 1991 AFC Championship teams. He was also the head coach and general manager of the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League from 2000 through 2002. Drawing from his vast football experience and love for the city of Buffalo, Bentley transitions from children’s books to fiction with his debut novel, Driftwood.

“I always look forward to visiting my old home of Buffalo especially when I have the opportunity to meet and greet the greatest football fans on the planet,” Bentley said. “Bills fans and football fans alike are going to love my new book which features the Buffalo Blizzard and their quest to win a Mega Bowl Title. The book is fiction but I’m sure any sharp Bills fan will recognize some of the characters. This is the perfect holiday gift for the Western New Yorkers on your list!”

The hardcover Driftwood is 448 pages long and carries a retail price of $25. The Darby the Dinosaur and Bubba Gator books can be purchased for $3 each or all four titles for just $10. The e-book version of Driftwood is currently available for $6.99 and is available for purchase on all e-book platforms, including Kindle, Nook, iBooks, Smashwords, Kobo and RedShelf.

About the BookIn the world of sports, football is still king. From Pop Warner up through the pros, people just can’t seem to get enough of their gridiron gods. Nowhere is this truer than in Buffalo, N.Y., where fans are desperate for a winner. The Buffalo Blizzard of the North American Football Association (NAFA) have teased and tortured their fan base for well beyond a decade. Long past was the franchise’s heyday back in the mid-to-late-’90s when they lost four consecutive Mega Bowls. However, things are looking up for Buffalo, and this may be their year!

Jack Driftwood, a 17-year NAFA veteran (all with the Blizzard), is back for number 18 and one last shot at Mega Bowl glory. But the Blizzard haven’t been to the playoffs since Driftwood’s rookie year when they lost in a blowout in Mega Bowl 33.

Blizzard General Manager Donald Allen Fegel Jr., through a series of shrewd moves and back room dealings, has brought the franchise back from the dead and into contention.

Team owner Gerald Wainscott III is no spring chicken, and he has recruited his daughter Gerry to take over the franchise after he is gone. Gerry’s arrival throws a wrench into the lives of both Driftwood and Fegel, but for entirely different reasons.

These titans clash both on and off the field and it truly is a no-holds-barred fight to the finish. Yet they all desire one thing above all: A Mega Bowl victory for the city of Buffalo.